I am writing to clarify several points that were made in a Dec. 4 Page 1 Tribune story about the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults on college campuses. The article implied that the Cook County state’s attorney’s office does not meet its responsibilities in charging these cases.
The story stated that police agencies investigated 109 sex crimes at 16 colleges since 2005, which translates to just over one complaint of sexual assault per year at 16 area colleges over the last six years. The state’s attorney’s office does not respond or investigate these cases until we are contacted by a police agency to review the facts for potential criminal charges. Of the 12 arrests that police made in these 109 cases, my office convicted five offenders.
As the story did mention, non-stranger sexual assaults can be extremely difficult to prosecute, but I want to make clear that my office stands willing and able to do so when we have sufficient evidence to meet our burden of proof. And we are continuously working to enhance communication and to help train police, including campus police, on the best practices for handling the investigation of sexual assault cases in order to improve our ability to successfully charge and prosecute an offender.
The story stated that I had “privately responded to the concerns” by appointing a new supervisor in our Sex Crimes Unit. The previous supervisor, who retired to pursue a career in teaching, had done an outstanding job and enjoys an impeccable reputation as a professional career prosecutor who is devoted to serving the victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes.
— Anita Alvarez, Cook County state’s attorney, Chicago
